An Oklahoma man accused of driving a truck through a security fence at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport earlier this week was charged Thursday in Sedgwick County District Court with criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.

Mark Rehme, 26, of Marlow, Okla., accused of driving a truck through a security fence at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, was charged Thursday in Sedgwick County District Court with criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing.
Sedgwick County Jail

An Oklahoma man accused of driving a truck through a security fence at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport earlier this week was charged Thursday in Sedgwick County District Court with criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.

Mark H. Rehme, 26, of Marlow, Okla., was arrested Sunday in connection with the alleged break-in. Authorities reported finding him “talking to himself” about 12:30 a.m. Sunday after he rammed through the fenced-in area near the 6800 block of West K-42, Sedgwick County sheriff’s spokesman Lt. David Mattingly said earlier this week.

Rehme had approached a small, private plane on a taxiway and held up papers. He was detained by Cessna Aircraft security staff. Authorities found a handgun and knives in his truck.

The court complaint filed Thursday against Rehme says his actions caused more than $1,000 but less than $25,000 to one of the airport’s gates – #V27 – that the Wichita Airport Authority “has an interest (in).” It also says he trespassed on a taxiway at 7710 W. Southwest Blvd., knowing that he “is not authorized or privileged” to be on the secured property.

The criminal damage charge is a felony. The trespassing charge is a misdemeanor.

Rehme is being held in Sedgwick County Jail on $15,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6.

Rehme appeared in court Thursday via a video link broadcast from the Sedgwick County Jail. He wore an orange jail jumpsuit and held his hands behind his back. He appeared calm, answering questions with “yes” as Sedgwick County District Court Judge Joe Kisner read the charges.

Mattingly, of the sheriff’s office, earlier this week released no details about a motive for the break-in but said investigators did not think it was linked to terrorism. On his application for court-appointed counsel, Rehme listed his monthly income at $1,600, earned from Rehme Manufacturing. The Marlow-based company builds aluminum products, according to its website.